AMUSEMENTS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 179, 30 August 1929, Page 2

AMUSEMENTS

FINAL PERFORMANCE OF "THE SINGING EOOL" TO-NIGHT. After a six nights and six afternooirj performances that have drawn capacity liouses at all sessions, tliis I "supreme attraction" makes its final j appearance to-night and never has | Napier received an entertainment so j enthusiastically. A1 Jolson, famed as a blackface comedian, lays aside burnt cork for the greater part of his new Warner iiros. super special, "The Singing Fool," and to a great extent plavs his role straight. And he plays it not as a clowning, wise-cracking comedian, but with an emotional power and deptli of feeling that are remarkable. Tlius tlie screen production presents a new A1 Jolson — a finished, dramatic actor wlio in his new medium exercises an even greater sway over tlie hearts of his audience | than before. There is an appeal which | is universal, different from. the appcal i of any other genius of stage or screen. I The spectacular picture tells a story I of the joys and heartaches of the j people of the cabarets. introducing ! Jolson as proprietor and master of ! ceremonies of a hectic New York liight club. The film reveals — an artist wlio j has become as mucli the master of the silver screen as though it liad always been his cliosen medium — an actor wlio carries himself wjtli the poise of a veteran. "The Singing Fool" is a sensation. Among tlie supporting players are Betty Bronson, Edward Martindel, Robert Emmett O'Connor, Josephine Dunn. Reed Howes. Arthur Housman and David Lee. C. Graham Baker made the adaptation from a Leslie S. Barrows' story. Lloyd Bacon directed. The opening niimbers are a particularly fine array of musical items that includes Vitanhone Trumpeters, "Tannhauser" overture, Mary Lewis sqng nunibers, Mischa Elman. famous violinist and "The Howard Bros." entertainers. Gaiety patrons are advised to hook early or be early for the greatest of all en'tertainments. Doors at 6.45. Prices, D.C. 3s 3d ; reserved stalls, 2s 9d; stalls, 2s; back stalls, ls 6d. No half prices. A DRAMATIO SENSATION, "ON TlilAL," 100 PER CENT TALKIE. 'l'lie Gaiety aiiiiounces another titanic attraction for Saturday, coiumeucing at tlie affcernoon perlormance, when "On Trial" the 100 per tent all talkie, commences its season of six nights. Every star actualiy speaks from the screen ; this pioduction makes a stage place look ridiculous. MTien Warner Bros. decided to make "On •Trial," as a special production, they seiected the glamorous Pauline Frederick for the leading feminine part, heading a remarkable all star cast, which also included Bert Lytell, Lois Wilson, Holmes Herbert, Jason Robards, Ricliurd Tucker, Johuny Arthur, Yondell Darr, Edmund Breese, Edward Martindel, Fred Kelsey and Franklin Pangborn. New York critics liailed the stage play, "On Trial," as being realistic as an actual trial — a brilliant condensation of the most dramatic elements of a score of famous murder trials — when it began its forty-six weeks' run 011 broadway. Because for tlie_ first time it introduced the "flasiiback," previously used only by the movies, it was ]iarticuiarly suitable for picture adaptation, and Warner Bros. have made it into a sensational special with an all-star cast, which no Broadway play could iiossibly excel. Tlie play opens in court 011 tlie first day of a murder trial. The accused, friend and debtor of tlie victim, has confessed to the crime. The testimony of tlie widoxv, of tlio slain man's private secretary, of the prisoner's little daughter, of his wife, and of the doctor who examined the dead man, gradually unfolds the dramatic story of love, liate trust, deceit, strcngth, weakness and honour Not till the final gripping 1110ment is the solution clear. The grea* Elmer Rice play was adapted by Robert Lord. Archie L. Mayo directed. The supporting all-talkie short subjects arc all that could be desired. Patrons will recollect the grand comhination 011 tlie opening programme, the same which proved so popular, but in "Ligkt Cavalry," the opening overture by the Vitaphone Sympliony Orchestra, Giuvvanni Martineli, tenor of tlie Metropolitan Opera Co., and EJsie Janis, the world's foremost vaudevill© favourite and the world-famous Elorentine Choir, Gaiety patrons liave indeed something in store to look forward to. The box plan is now open at Hyde's, where intending patrons will do well 1o make early apiilication for reservations.